‘Fall of Gods – She is Gone’ Book Score Brings Epic Norse Tale to Life

If you’ve been following our Maze Runner coverage, you know that in addition to The Death Cure, director Wes Ball has another exciting project in the works – the feature film adaptation of Fall of Gods, an epic Norse tale originally told in a gorgeously illustrated book funded by Kickstarter. Though we’ll have to wait awhile longer to learn more about Ball’s take on the story, we’ve been dying to know more about Fall of Gods – and now we’re getting an inside listen, if not an inside look.

Even if you (like us) missed out on the Kickstarter for the project, you can get in on the action with the new Original Book Score, Fall of Gods – She is Gone. The album, available now digitally and on CD March 4 from Lakeshore Records, features the original score by François Jolin (THE GENEX, WINNETOU, HARD RIGHT) and the original track “The Call” co-written with, and featuring, Delhia de France.

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The Original Book Score will serve as a companion to Fall of Gods itself, which follows Vali, a warrior haunted by his past, but who has found peace in the arms of a woman. For years he has lived far from society, tending to his farm and trying to forget the battles he fought…and the crimes he committed. But one day his love disappears, and he must set out to find her. He will once again have to face the creatures of Jotunheim and the powerful Aesir. Suddenly, the man he thought he had buried deep down inside has risen to the surface once more…and he comes seeking vengeance.

Fangirlish had the chance to preview Fall of Gods – She is Gone in its entirety – and just as we suspected, we can already tell we’re going to love this story. While we were intrigued by the stunning concept art and elements of Norse mythology teased on the Fall of Gods campaign page, the music has us hooked in a whole new way. Each track is lush and atmospheric, haunting and primal without being too harsh. It’s easy to imagine curling up with the book while listening to the score, being drawn further into the story and leaving the real world behind.

Jolin’s musical influences shed some light on just how he was able to create this unique sound. “For score references, I was instructed to look towards films like APOCALYPTO, BRAVEHEART, and NOAH,” he said. “This helped a lot to establish an initial sound palette. One key part of the sound palette was getting in all these textures so that it never sounded too clean. Using synths and off­-played strings helped give a real sense of grit while maintaining a modern approach.”

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With such an epic, layered tale, theme and complexity were key. “I see FALL OF GODS as being more than a huge monsters, Norse action piece,” Jolin explained. “It contains many elements that have a strong meaning, affliction, duality, hope amidst chaos, whilst remaining viable and true to its epic stage. It’s not the same sort of Norse inspired story that we’ve all come to know, there are no superheroes with red capes, and washboard abs. It has a gritty naturalistic approach that brings something new to the mythos.”

Having heard Jolin’s musical take on Fall of Gods, we are even more eagerly awaiting Wes Ball’s vision for the big screen version. If the book score is any indication, we’re in for a captivating, epic tale we won’t soon forget.

FALL OF GODS was created by MOOD concept designer Rasmus Berggreen and HITMAN video game writer Michael Vogt. The book will be turned into a feature film by director Wes Ball (THE MAZE RUNNER) and 20th Century Fox.